Crate



June 8 1926.

o. A. LANE ET AL CRATE Filed March 25, 1925 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED? STATES 7 1,587,781 ems NT orricn.

OSCAR A. LANE AND DUKE GUIGE, OF GREENVI-LLE, ALABAMA.

,GRATE.

Application filed March 25, 1925. Serial No. 18,260.

This invention relates to shipping crates, and more particularly to collapsibe crates.

This application is, in part, a continuation of our copending application filed March 10, 1924:, Serial No. (598,283.

An object of the invention isthe provision of means for retaining the cover of a crate in position, in which no removable fastening elements, such as nails, screws or the like, areemployed.

More specifically, the invention comprises a crate having the sides and ends provided with projecting members, and a cover havingextensions adapted to fit under the projecting members to retain the cover in position and prevent the side and end walls from collapsing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a crate of this character, which will not collapse when the cover is removed.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate,

Figure 2 is an end elevation showing the manner of removing the cover, and,-

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cover.

In constructing the crate, we employ end members 1 which are provided with transverse strips 2 at the top and bottom. As shown, these strips are provided with notches 3,'adjacent each end. The crate'is further provided with side walls v4t having transverse strips 5 at each end, which strips are vertically disposed when the side walls are in position. As-shown, the strips pro-- ject beyond the edges of the side walls and are adapted to be received in the notches 3.

The top and bottom of the crate is of substantially the same construction. As shown, the top consists of suitable strips 6 connected by longitudinally extending members 7. The ends of one of these members extends beyond the body portion of the top, as shown, and one end of the other member extends in the same manner. In constructing the bottom, both ends of each member are extend ed beyond the body portion. The end 8 of the member 7 which does not extend beyond the body portion of the top, is provided with a fastener 9, consisting of a strip of metal which is secured to the side member by suitable fastening elements 10.

The crate is assembled by placing the end members adjacent each end of the bottom with the projecting portion of the longiper notches 3.

2 and assume a position beneath it. cover 18 then in proper position and the fasktenmgmember 9 *may be bent into the posiltudinalstrips 11 of the bottom arranged on the projecting portions vof the longitudinal strips 2 of the end members, and with the body portion 1 of the end member arranged inwardly of the longitudinal strips and contacting with the body portionof the bottom.

The end members are then inclined inwardly and the sides inserted with the body portion 4 of the side arranged inwardly of the lon- :gitudina l strips ll'and with the lower pro jecting portion of the vertical strips 5 re ceived in the notch 3 in the lowercross memportions of the strips 5 received in the up- The crate may #then be employedwithout the cover and issuliiciently rigid for all purposes. Thecover is placed in position by inserting the projecting ends of the slde members 7 under the pro ecting portions of the end strips :2 at the opposite end of the crate from the fastening member 9. The looseend of the fastening member 9 is bent outwardly at right angles and the cover is then moved to an angular position suliicicnt to permit the remaining projecting end of the opposite side member 7 to pass over the end of the corresponding end strip The tion shown in Figure 1 of the drawings beneath the projecting portion of the end member 2. In removing the cover, the reverse operation is employed, as designated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

7e claim:

1. A crate having a transverse member secured to the top of each of its end walls, said transverse members projecting beyond the side edges of said end walls, a cover for said crate, longitudinal members secured to each side of said cover, one of said longitudinal members being provided with pro jections at each end adapted to be received beneath the projecting portions of said transverse members, the other longitudinal member being provided with a projection on one end adapted to be received beneath the projecting portion of one of said transverse members, and a releasable fastening element secured to the other end of said member and adapted to be received beneath the projecting portion of the other transverse member.

2. A crate having a bottom, sides and ends removably secured thereto, the top of each end being provided with a transverse member, said transverse members projecting beyond the side edges of the ends, a cover for said crate, longitudinal members secured to each side of said cover, one of said longitudinal members being provided with rojections at each end adapted to be received beneath the projecting portions of said transverse members, the other longitudinal member being provided with a projection at one end, and a. releasable fastener secured to the other end of said longitudinal member and adapted to be received beneath the projecting portion of one end of one of said transverse members. v

3. A crate comprising a bottom, longitudinally extending members arranged on each side of said bottom and projecting beyond the ends thereof, end members adapted to be arranged at each end of said bottom, strips secured to the top and bottom of said end members and projecting beyond the sides thereof, the projecting portions of the strips at the bottom being adapted to be arranged beneath the projecting portions of said 1ongitudinally extending members when the crate is assembled, said strips being provided with notches adjacent each end, and side members adapted to be arranged on said bottom inwardly of said longitudinally extending members, said side members being provided with strips arranged at each end and projecting beyond the. top and bottom edges of said side members, the projecting portions of said strips being adapted to be received in said notches.

4. A crate constructed in accordance with claim 3 having a cover provided with longitudinally extending members on each side, each end of one of said members and one end of the other member being provided with projections extending beyond the body portion of the cover, said projections being adapted to be received beneath the up er strips of said end members, and a releasa le fastening member adapted to be received beneath the projecting portion of one of said upper end strips, said fastening member being secured to the other end of said last mentioned longitudinal member.

5. A crate having a bottom, sides and ends removably secured thereto, the top of each end being provided with a transverse member, said transverse members projecting beyond the side edges of the ends, a cover for saidcrate, longitudinal members secured to each side of said cover, one of said longitudinal members being provided with projections at each end adapted to be received beneath the projecting portions of said transverse members, the other longitudinal member being provided with a projection at one end, and a flexible sheet metal fastener secured to the other end of said last named longitudinal member and adapted to be bent to extend beneath the projecting portion of one of said transverse members.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures.

OSCAR A. LANE. DUKE GUICE. 

